Simulation-based design for efficiency, safety and comfort

Abstract

The paper surveys the role of modern computer simulations to support the design of ships. At the centre of most efforts is the quest for fuel efficiency and today also reduction of emissions. However, designs need also to consider safety and for some ships comfort aspects. The employed simulation techniques are frequently the same and several examples will show how simulations are used to simultaneously assess more than one of the above design aspects. Simulation areas covered include resistance and propulsion, seakeeping, aerodynamic flows and structural analyses. For resistance and propulsion, cavitating flow analyses with transient CFD analyses are taken as an example, where safety aspects (structural erosion of rudders) and efficiency aspects are covered in one simulation. CFD applications to appendages illustrate how a common simulation approach may be used to make ships more fuel efficient or address comfort issues in vortex induced vibrations. In aerodynamics, two applications of the same code are shown: one addresses the flow field on a helicopter deck for safe operation, the other a formal optimisation of a funnel design to minimize smoke dispersion on a megayacht. For ships, modern computer applications help minimizing structural weight while still maintaining safety standards as prescribed by Class Rules. The diverse applications can be reduced to three design goals (basically one design goal with another goal acting as constraint) and a few multi-purpose simulation tools. Recent case studies taken from GL Group experience illustrate the various applications and the common denominators.